New Delhi (NVI): In a major relief to elderly persons and pensioners, the Central Government has relaxed the existing timeline for submission of Life Certificate.
“All Central government pensioners can submit Life Certificate from 1st November, 2020 to 31st December 2020. Earlier this used to be only for the month of November for maintaining continuity of Pension,” the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said in a statement.
The pensioners in the age group of 80 years and above, can submit Life Certificate from October 1 to December 31. During this extended period, the pension will be continued to be paid by the Pension Disbursing Authorities (PDAs) uninterrupted, it added.
Singh also said that the decision was taken in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the vulnerability of elderly population to coronavirus.
“As per RBI notification dated January 9, 2020, which permits Video based Customer Identification Process (V-CIP) as a consent based alternate method of establishing the customer’s identity, Pension Disbursing Banks have been also asked to explore the said methodology for obtaining a Life Certificate from the pensioner, to the extent permitted by RBI guidelines, in order to avoid rush at the branches,”the minister said.
The statement further read, “Every Central government pensioner has to submit life certificate in the month of November for further continuation of their pension.”
They can submit life certificate by visiting the bank branches, however the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has been promoting the Digital Life Certificate which can be given from the comfort of one’s home also, it added.
Last year, as a measure to enable additional dedicated time to very senior pensioners, the department issued orders enabling pensioners in the age group of 80 years & above to submit Life Certificate from October 1 onward instead of November 1, so that they could avoid the general rush in the month of November.
-RJV
